When the Scouser first arrived on set in Philadelphia last year, he felt he should have stayed in Britain and pursued his world title dream after beating rival Nathan Cleverly.

But as soon as he began working with Stallone, he knew he had made the right choice.

Boxing Clever: Bellew defeated Nathan Cleverly (Image: Getty)

“At first I regretted doing it because it affected my boxing career,” he said. “My boxing career went backwards a bit. I’d defeated Nathan Cleverly and then I disappeared off to America for three months. The movie did take 12 months out of my boxing career.

“I should have been world champion by now, but ultimately I took that time out, made the movie and it’s something that will last forever. My eldest lad, Corey, has seen it and he was shocked his dad was in a film with Sylvester Stallone, playing Rocky.

Knockout: Stallone in new movie

“It is just nuts to think I am now part of that ­franchise. He is someone I grew up with, I loved watching his films and to think I’m part of one is surreal.”

Bellew, 33, relived his youth as he chatted with Stallone and as proud as he is to appear in a Rocky movie, Rambo will always be his favourite Sly ­character.

“All I wanted to know when we spoke was about the Rambo movies,” he grinned. “My favourite is the last one.

“The guy is 69 and still making Rambo movies. At that age, I will be propped up in an armchair with a remote control like Jim Royle.”

Director Ryan Coogler cast Bellew after seeing him on the internet partly because he is a mad Evertonian – he fights the Rocky-trained Adonis Creed at Goodison Park.

Stallone supports Everton through his friend and Blues director Robert Earl, and Bellew says the ­Hollywood star rues not buying the club.

Bellew realised his last two boxing ambitions in the film – fighting at Goodison and becoming a world champion.

Now he wants to really achieve those goals and hopes to fight for the world cruiserweight title after his impressive win over Mateusz Masternak last month to claim the European crown. “I realised all my dreams by appearing in Creed,” he said.

“All that’s left on my bucket list is to win a world title for real.”

* KEVIN MIRALLAS came close to ruining the Goodison Park crowd scenes in Creed.

The film’s production team chose half-time of Everton’s game against West Brom 12 months ago to record the atmosphere at the stadium to be used in fight scenes in the movie.

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But Mirallas missed a penalty just before the interval in the turgid goalless draw to silence the home fans and the film crew frantically had to appeal to them to make some noise as the clock ticked towards the start of the second half.

The Blues supporters responded just in time and the clips recorded that night are used in the film.